IN CINEMAS APRIL 20TH

ADRIAN SHERGOLD
Director

SYNOPSIS

“A woman with a funnybone for a backbone”

‘Funny Cow’ charts the rise to stardom of a female comedienne through the 1970’s and 1980’s. It is set against the backdrop of working men’s clubs and the stand-up comedy circuit of the North of England.

From her troubled childhood to her turbulent adult relationships, the Funny Cow uses the raw material of her life experiences to bring her unique style of comedy to the stage. A stand-up comedienne in an all-male world, ‘Funny Cow’ delivers tragedy and comedy in equal measure.

Maxine Peake plays the role of a lifetime as ‘Funny Cow’ with Tony Pitts as her violent soul mate ‘Bob’, Paddy Considine acts as her middle class lover ‘Angus’ and Stephen Graham plays her brother ‘Mike’.

WORLD PREMIERE: LONDON FILM FESTIVAL

REVIEWS

The Guardian

Maxine Peake dominates the screen as producer and star of this painful, angry film written by Tony Pitts and directed by Adrian Shergold, about a fictional female club comedian fighting her way to the top, or at least the middle, in 1970s Britain.

Film Seekers

One Room With a View

Funny Cow is literally Maxine Peake’s show, as she narrates her tough life – and the film – from a later point of success through a televised monologue. Her no-nonsense honesty is reminiscent of a Victoria Wood piece or Julie Walters role, which puts the audience in the right headspace for the chuckles and struggles that lie ahead.

The Up Coming

Mild Concern

Funny Cow is a curious beast. The first feature written by actor Tony Pitts, the film follows an aspiring comedian (Maxine Peake) from her childhood, through an abusive marriage, to success as a stand-up. I was expecting a familiar rags to riches period drama following the rise of her career but Funny Cow is nothing so simple as that.

Culture Fly

Maxine Peake is tremendous, her quivering lip and sudden glances to camera, almost breaking the fourth wall, showcase an actor at the top of their game. She is innocent but strong; tough enough but delicate. It may not be entirely ground-breaking but Funny Cow remains uplifting, utterly heartfelt and as cosy as a warm cup of tea.

Production

Sales

Nominated twice for a BAFTA award, She plays the character of ‘Funny Cow’. Amongst her many credits is the Academy

Award-winning ‘The Theory of Everything: ‘Silk: ‘The Village: ‘Red Riding’ and ‘Hamlet’ at The Royal Exchange.

Paddy Considine

Paddy Considine is an English actor, filmmaker, and musician. He has played a number of dark, troubled, and morally or mentally ambiguous characters. He has starred in leading roles in ‘A Room for Romeo Brass’, ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’, ‘Honour’ and ‘The Girl With All The Gifts’. As well as supporting roles in films such as ‘24 Hour Party People’, ‘Hot Fuzz’, ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’, ‘The World’s End’ and ‘Macbeth’.

Stephen Graham

One of Britain’s top character actors, roles have included the menacing Al Capone in the hugely successful ‘Broadwalk Empire’. The lead in ‘This Is England’, a major part in the ‘Pirates of the Carribean’ franchise and as buffoon Tommy in Guy Richie’s ‘Snatch’. Stephen will be the Funny Cow’s older brother, Mike.

Tony Pitts

Wrote the script for ‘Funny Cow’ and plays her soulmate Bob in the film. He is fast becoming a sought-after actor with roles in Steven Spielberg’s ‘War Horse’, ‘Red Riding’, ‘Peaky Blinders’ and ‘Line of Duty’ and the co-lead in Paddy Considine’s ‘Journeyman’.

Kevin Eldon

Has featured in many British comedy TV shows including; ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge’, ‘Big Train’, ‘Brass Eye’ and ‘Jam’. In 2013 he stared in his own BBC sketch series ‘It’s Kevin’ and since 2016 the HBO series ‘Game of Thrones’.

Richard Hawley

Critically acclaimed musician/songwriter Richard Hawley is composing an original score for ‘Funny Cow’ and will also appear in the film with Corinne Bailey Rae as a club-singing duo. Richard has worked with Jarvis Cocker, Arctic Monkeys, REM, Jools Holland and Paul Weller. His solo career includes the classic albums ‘Coles Corner’, ‘Late Night Final’ and ‘Lady’s Bridge’.

Vic Reeves

James Roderick Moir, better known by the stage name Vic Reeves, is an English comedian, artist, actor and television presenter, best known for his double act with Bob Mortimer. He is known for his surreal and non-sequitur sense of humour.

Diane Morgan

Best known for playing Philomena Cunk in Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, Diane began doing stand-up in 2005 and gained roles in both theatre and television, including Ken Campbell’s 24 hour Warp Experience and Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights for Channel 4.

Kevin Rowland

English singer-songwriter and frontman for the pop band Dexys Midnight Runners (currently called Dexys), which had several hits in the early 1980s, the most notable being “Geno” and “Come On Eileen”, both of which reached Number One on the U.K. singles charts.

Corinne Bailey Rae

The MOBO, MOJO, Q and Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae will appear with Richard Hawley as part of the duo ‘Coffee & Cream’ in the film.

Alun Armstrong

Alun made his screen debut in the film Get Carter and has appeared in Patriot Games, Braveheart, The Mummy Returns, Millions, Sleepy Hollow, Van Helsing and Eragon. His TV credit includes New Tricks and Penny Dreadful.

Lindsey Coulson

Known as Carol Jackson from the successful BBC serial drama EastEnders, Lindsey went on to star in Out of Hours, Clocking Off, Judge John Deed, Paradise Heights, Manchild, The Stretford Wives, Dalziel and Pascoe, Murder Investigation Team, The Last Detective, Urban Gothic, The Street and in ITV detective series The Level.

Hannah Walters

The brilliant Hannah Walters is known for This is England and the spin-off series, Whitechapel, No Offence.

John Bishop

John is the biggest stand-up comedian in the UK, with his own TV chat series ‘In Conversation with…’

Christine Bottomley

Christine has appeared in Torchwood, Hope Springs, BBC drama: Land Girls, In the Club and the feature films Hush and Keeping Rosy.